A Gangster's Paradise - Saratoga Springs from Prohibition to Kefauver

A Gangster's Paradise - Saratoga Springs from Prohibition to Kefauver
Author: Greg Veitch
Publisher: Shirespress
Total Pages: 378
Release: 2019-12-06
Genre: History
ISBN: 9781605714776

During the era of the American gangster, Saratoga Springs was a virtual "Gangster's Paradise". From Prohibition to Kefauver hoodlums, gunmen and gamblers had the run of the town. With public officials accepting graft on a grand scale, and police looking the other way, a who's who of organized crime made Saratoga Springs their playground. From Charles "Lucky" Luciano and Myer Lansky, to Joe Adonis and Frank Costello, the Spa hosted them all. In his follow up book to ALL THE LAW IN THE WORLD WON'T STOP THEM, retired Saratoga Springs police Chief Greg Veitch tells the stories of the exploits of both home-grown, and nationally known gangsters at the Spa. This historical account of Saratoga Springs between Prohibition and Kefauver takes the reader back to a time when Saratoga was, indeed, A Gangster's Paradise.

Bugsy's Shadow

Bugsy's Shadow
Author: Larry D. Gragg
Publisher: University of New Mexico Press
Total Pages: 232
Release: 2023-10
Genre:
ISBN: 0826365159

Early in the Prohibition era, Moe Sedway became part of the New York organized crime gang led by Meyer Lansky and Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel. A loyal and highly effective operative for Siegel, Sedway eventually gained monopoly control of the race wire service in Las Vegas and also became an effective casino manager of the Las Vegas Club, El Cortez, and the Rex Club. A breach in their relationship led to rumors that Sedway had gained Lansky's approval for a "hit" on Siegel. The unsolved mystery of who murdered Bugsy in 1947 has spawned numerous theories about the identity of the hitman, but regardless of who pulled the trigger, Bugsy's death opened the way for Moe to flourish as his own man at last. Long overshadowed by Bugsy in the annals of organized crime in America, Moe Sedway is now at last brought out into the light in this riveting tale of the sensational life and times of one of Vegas's most mysterious and little-known figures.

Gangster Squad

Gangster Squad
Author: Paul Lieberman
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Total Pages: 580
Release: 2012-08-07
Genre: True Crime
ISBN: 1250020166

"Read this man's book." --James Ellroy Gangster Squad presents a harrowing, edge-of-your-seat narrative of murder and secrets, revenge and heroism in the City of Angels—the real events behind the blockbuster Warner Brothers film starring Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone. GANGSTER SQUAD chronicles the true story of the secretive police unit that waged an anything-goes war to drive Mickey Cohen and other hoodlums from Los Angeles after WWII. In 1946, the LAPD launched the Gangster Squad with eight men who met covertly on street corners and slept with Tommy guns under their beds. But for two cops, all that mattered was nailing the strutting gangster Mickey Cohen. Sgt. Jack O'Mara was a square-jawed church usher, Sgt. Jerry Wooters a cynical maverick. About all they had in common was their obsession. So O'Mara set a trap to prove Mickey was a killer. And Wooters formed an alliance with Mickey's budding rival, Jack "The Enforcer" Whalen. Two cops -- two hoodlums. Their fates collided in the closing days of the 1950s, when late one night "The Enforcer" confronted Mickey and his crew. The aftermath would shake both LA's mob and police department, and signal the end of a defining era in the city's history. Warner Brothers developed the film Gangster Squad based on the research award-winning journalist Paul Lieberman conducted for this book, which reveals the unbelievable true stories behind the film. He spent more than a decade tracking down and interviewing surviving members of the real police unit as well as families and associates of the mobsters they pursued. Gangster Squad is a tour-de-force narrative reminiscent of LA Confidential.

The Mob and the City

The Mob and the City
Author: C. Alexander Hortis
Publisher: Prometheus Books
Total Pages: 384
Release: 2014-05-06
Genre: True Crime
ISBN: 1616149248

Forget what you think you know about the Mafia. After reading this book, even life-long mob aficionados will have a new perspective on organized crime. Informative, authoritative, and eye-opening, this is the first full-length book devoted exclusively to uncovering the hidden history of how the Mafia came to dominate organized crime in New York City during the 1930s through 1950s. Based on exhaustive research of archives and secret files obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, author and attorney C. Alexander Hortis draws on the deepest collection of primary sources, many newly discovered, of any history of the modern mob. Shattering myths, Hortis reveals how Cosa Nostra actually obtained power at the inception. The author goes beyond conventional who-shot-who mob stories, providing answers to fresh questions such as: * Why did the Sicilian gangs come out on top of the criminal underworld? * Can economics explain how the Mafia families operated? * What was the Mafia's real role in the drug trade? * Why was Cosa Nostra involved in gay bars in New York since the 1930s? Drawing on an unprecedented array of primary sources, The Mob and the City is the most thorough and authentic history of the Mafia's rise to power in the early-to-mid twentieth century.

Washington Confidential

Washington Confidential
Author: Lee Mortimer
Publisher: Good Press
Total Pages: 255
Release: 2021-11-05
Genre: Travel
ISBN:

"Washington Confidential" by Lee Mortimer, Jack Lait. Published by Good Press. Good Press publishes a wide range of titles that encompasses every genre. From well-known classics & literary fiction and non-fiction to forgotten−or yet undiscovered gems−of world literature, we issue the books that need to be read. Each Good Press edition has been meticulously edited and formatted to boost readability for all e-readers and devices. Our goal is to produce eBooks that are user-friendly and accessible to everyone in a high-quality digital format.

The Encyclopedia of Conspiracies and Conspiracy Theories

The Encyclopedia of Conspiracies and Conspiracy Theories
Author: Michael Newton
Publisher: Checkmark Books
Total Pages: 426
Release: 2006
Genre: History
ISBN: 9780816055418

More than 500 alphabetically-arranged entries provide information regarding historical events, organizations, and people associated with unsolved mysteries or covert actions.

The King of Casinos

The King of Casinos
Author: Andy Martello
Publisher: Just a Martello Books
Total Pages: 304
Release: 2014-01-04
Genre: Businessmen
ISBN: 9780615894591

WINNER OF 12 LITERARY AND DESIGN AWARDS! The unreal but TRUE story of the unknown casino that changed Las Vegas forever! After a horrific blaze destroyed Willie Martello's El Rey Club in 1962, fifty years would pass before anyone knew of how that casino and one-time brothel influenced LAS VEGAS casinos, upset the mob, and inadvertently launched the career of Francis Ford Coppola. Were it not for the chance discovery of a single photo in a Las Vegas museum, the El Rey Club would only be known as the seedy brothel where Senator Harry Reid learned to swim. Martello's accomplishments should place him among magnates like Howard Hughes or Steve Wynn, yet very few know his name. Featuring over 140 rare or unseen photos, these vibrant stories are now brought to light! ------------------------------------------------------------------- "Who else could tell the story of Willie Martello? The rare photos alone are worth the price of admission. My only regret is that I didn't write this book." -Robert Graysmith, New York Times Bestselling Author of Zodiac, Auto-Focus, and Black Fire "Quick, funny, and extremely intelligent!" -Mark L. Walberg,Host, Antiques Roadshow (PBS) "A literal time machine...a read that not only unleashes the imagination, but authenticates the splendor of Las Vegas' golden years." -Todd Newton,Emmy-winning game show host, author, and Las Vegas performer "Andy Martello has written a fascinating biography of Willie Martello. It is a long-awaited addition to my Nevada history shelf." -Mark Hall-Patton,Clark County Museum System Administrator,Pawn Stars, American Restoration (The History Channel) "LONG LIVE WILLIE MARTELLO!" -Richard B. Taylor,Author, historian, Las Vegas casino owner WINNER! 2014 International Book, 2014 USA Best Book Awards, Florida Book Festival, Great Southwest Book Festival WINNER! Silver Medals, 2014 Readers' Favorite International Book Awards, 2014 American Advertising Awards for book design (The ADDYs) FINALIST! Best New Non-Fiction, USA Best Book Awards, 2014 Red City Review Book Awards RUNNER-UP! 2014 Hollywood and Beach Book Festivals HONORABLE MENTION!, Great Midwest and Southern California Book Festivals

A Man of Honor

A Man of Honor
Author: Joseph Bonanno
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks
Total Pages: 418
Release: 2013-06-04
Genre: Biography & Autobiography
ISBN: 1466847174

"Friendships, connections, family ties, trust, loyalty, obedience-this was the 'glue' that held us together." These were the principles that the greatest Mafia "Boss of Bosses," Joseph Bonnano, lived by. Born in Castellammare del Golfo, Sicily, Bonnano found his future amid the whiskey-running, riotous streets of Prohibition America in 1924, when he illegally entered the United States to pursue his dreams. By the age of only twenty-six, Bonnano became a Don. He would eventually take over the New York underworld, igniting the "Castellammarese War," one of the bloodiest Family battles ever to hit New York City... Now, in this candid and stunning memoir, Joe Bonanno-likely a model for Don Corleone in the blockbuster movie The Godfather-takes readers inside the world of the real Mafia. He reveals the inner workings of New York's Five Families-Bonanno, Gambino, Profaci, Lucchese, and Genovese-and uncovers how the Mafia not only dominated local businesses, but also influenced national politics. A fascinating glimpse into the world of crime, A Man of Honor is an unforgettable account of one of the most powerful crime figures in America's history.

Saratoga Springs

Saratoga Springs
Author: Timothy A. Holmes
Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
Total Pages: 138
Release: 2000
Genre: History
ISBN: 9780738504384

Brilliant afternoons awash in sunshine . . . health, history, and horses . . . this is the experience Saratoga Springs spreads out for visitors, year after golden year. From the long distant past, the powerful waters from deep in the earth made this place a wellspring of the healing arts. The allure of meeting in the healthy country environment brought society first from the eastern cities and then from all points of the globe. Society itself became an object for summer entertainment, and connecting with living history came to be a recreational pursuit. Nestled in the foothills of the Adirondacks, Saratoga Springs, across two centuries, has been the midsummer mecca. There is more to Saratoga Springs. While the Spa City opens its arms to all travelers, along with the charms there stands a robust, cheerful, and stalwart core of residents who have over the years transformed a northern wilderness into an oasis of leisure and elegance. Behind the grand hotels of Broadway and America's Monte Carlo are the mansions of Union Avenue and Circular Street, the winter play, and the personalities shaping a place of character, comfort, and culture. Saratoga Springs: A Historical Portrait is their story--the small town at the heart of the City in the Country.

1100 Words You Need to Know

1100 Words You Need to Know
Author: Murray Bromberg
Publisher:
Total Pages: 340
Release: 1993
Genre: Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN: 9780812016208

Contains over two hundred lesson plans that introduce students to new vocabulary words, each with a list of words with pronunciation keys, a paragraph that uses the words in context, sample sentences, definitions, and a daily idiom.